rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

If you can't afford a bunch of prime lens then get a zoom, but make sure it is a good one.
My utility lens is a Canon EF 28-300 f/3.5-5.6L zoom lens. A very versatile lens. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer but sharp enough. Down side of a lens like that, it is expensive, but it effectively covers a wide variety of focal lengths. Do I use it for portraits and the like? Sometimes, depending on the situation. When I'm doing a quality portrait, something that's going to be printed 8 x 10 or larger and put in a nice frame, I usually use my EF 85 f/1.2L prime or EF 100 f/2.8L prime. But the zoom is on the camera most of the time.

Golden Rule Loc: Washington State

I started out getting the trinity zoom lenses in f2.8. I've been shooting about 5 years now and just got my first prime lens. I started looking at the history of what the typical distance my zoom was at when I shoot and chose a prime closest to that distance. Whatever you choose, make sure to not skimp on the glass!

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

That's the way to do it!

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

I am having very good results with Fujifilm prime and zoom lenses

delottphoto

My suggestion is that you do a little conversation with your self. What are your interests? What lenses will get you there? What can you afford? There are lots of "toys" out there, but can you justify their purchase. Of course this conversation is moot, if you have a pocket full of money!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Generally speaking - zoom. If you specifically need a certain focal length for particular reason, then get a prime. In theory, a prime will give you better results, but in real life, no one is going to see the difference. "Zooming with your feet" isn't a practical way to take pictures.

Prime vs zoom -
https://digital-photography-school.com/prime-vs-zoom-lenses-which-are-best/
https://photographylife.com/prime-vs-zoom-lenses
https://expertphotography.com/prime-vs-zoom-lenses/
https://improvephotography.com/1098/prime-or-zoom-lens-dslr/

In favor of primes -
http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/ideas-and-inspiration/why-prime-nikkors-are-now-my-prime-traveling-companions.html?CID=img_en_us:SCL:COMM:MWW:062817:Facebook:O:LE:article:primeNIKKOR&linkId=39205366

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

There are so many factors besides prime vs zoom.
First is flexibility. Zooms have primes beat hands down one zoom does what a handfull of primes can do and then some as there are not primes to cover all the focal lengths. Yes people say zoom with your feet but that is very frequently impossible like at the edge of the Grand Canyon or the ceiling detail of a cathedral etc. A zoom lets you get the right crop and better use of your sensor right at the start with out compromising and having to come home and lose pixels later.
A zoom will allow you to carry far fewer lenses thus saving a substantial amount of weight and hassle of having to change lenses as frequently. 3 zooms can take you from 10mm to 400mm easily. How many primes would be needed to get the coverage of that type.
Good quality zooms for DSLR or Mirrorless are every bit as good as primes today.
Now primes do generally have faster aperture ranges especially at the long telephoto and ultra wide ranges. But you really get into size and expense also. But if a large aperture is critical they are generally your only option.
So as you can see the only real advantage of primes is aperture size. So you need to ask is it critical to your work and if so you also most likely will pair the prime with a FF sensor so as to actually take full advantage of the large aperture. Or is versatility, saving a ton of money for the same image quality but a smaller aperture acceptable?
A good example is the Canon 11-24mm zoom out performs the Canon and Nikon primes in that focal length range by a demonstrable amount but has a smaller aperture.
So you decide.

Eric Bornstein Loc: Toronto Canada

I would simplify the discussion with the following responses:
1. But a quality zoom lenses that has a decent range for most photographic situations (24mm - 120mm) and spend the money to have a constant f/stop say f/4. This lens is an excellent walk around lens and won’t break your back transporting it.
2. Pair this lens with a mid range DSLR. You likely do not need a professional level camera.
3. Once you know what interests you the most in photography, consider. Prime or primed to round out your gear. For example, if it is portrait work that you wish to do, a prime between 50 and 105 would be great. I’m talking mm as in a crop sensor camera.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Might be helpful to know what you have now and what you use, what you shoot, format IE: FF, APS--C etc...

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

"I am starting to research different lenses and would like to know whether to focus (no pun intended) on a prime lens versus a zoom lens"

That all depends on what you want to do with the lens and your favorite subjects. Street photography is well served with a 35mm prime although I prefer a zoom. Landscapes call for moderate wide angles and I prefer also a zoom for that. Portratis are better served with a medium tele and many photographer opt for the 85mm lens.
As you can see, it all depends.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

So many choices, so little time. Basically if your only buying ONE lens, I would go with a zoom cause you get MANY primes in one lens. And it also depends on your budget.
An excellent zoom would be the Nikon 16-80, if your on a budget, the Nikon 18-200 VR II lens is outstanding.
If you want to start with a prime to see how a prime does, I would strongly recommend the following
https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/product/refurbished-camera-lenses/af-s-dx-nikkor-35mm-f%252f1.8g-refurbished.html
If all your are ever going to print is up to an 11X14 then YOU WILL NOT SEE THE DIFFERENCE between prime and a good quality zoom.
I would not worry too much, with today's post processing and high ISO camera's, and in camera processing primes are going by way of the dinosaur.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

One of the popular lenses are the 24-70mm f2.8. And the prime lenses, 50mm f1.4/f1.8.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

What are you going to use the lens(es) for? People who use prime lenses say you can "zoom with your feet", will you always be in a situation where you can zoom with your feet? Prime lenses are generally sharper than zooms, is that a factor for you? How many lenses do you want to carry in your kit?

Now for full disclosure: I am a zoom guy; I have the 18-55 kit lens on one camera, my 28-75 f/2.8 on another, and my 70-300 on yet a third. I shoot landscapes (primarily) and do be bulk of my shooting with the 28-75. That being said, there are times I like shooting wider and there are still other times I liked having that 70-300 when shooting distant mesas in Utah. I like the versatility that the zooms give me and I find that they are decently sharp lenses.

tony capp

I agree with most all posts here - it depends on what & where you want to shoot. I carry a couple of zooms that get me 28-250. But I also have a nifty 50. (Macro). A 50 is a versatile lens & you can get them as fast as you need. 1.2 is very expensive & heavy. 1.4 is less expensive than the 1.2 & fast enough for most situations & can be used in numerous shoots. If you want an inexpensive 50 go for the 1.8. If you’re shooting nature or landscapes you’ll need the correct lens & they will be totally different.
Good shootin partner !

lhardister Loc: Brownsville, TN